Bill will ensure cheap source for AIDS drugs: Legislation
expected next week will fulfil promises to Africa by
Chretien, Martin

The Vancouver Sun
Thu 02 Oct 2003
Tim Naumetz

OTTAWA -- The government could table legislation late next week
that would make cheaper Canadian generic drugs available to AIDS
patients in poor countries, government House leader Don Boudria
said Wednesday.

The announcement follows statements of support for cheaper AIDS
drugs for Africa by both Jean Chretien and Paul Martin, designated
by initial leadership delegate voting last month as the Liberal
party's choice to succeed the prime minister.

Boudria, who has been meeting privately with opposition parties to
garner support for quick legislative action amending drug patent
law, said in an interview it is impossible to table a bill on the
issue this week. "Next week would be tight," he added. "Perhaps
around the end of next week, but no sooner than that."

In the Commons, Chretien accused NDP MP Libbie Davies of
"grandstanding" over the prospect of drug legislation after she
accused the Liberals of dragging their feet.

Stephen Lewis, former Ontario NDP leader and former Canadian
ambassador to the United Nations who is now a special UN envoy on
HIV and AIDS in Africa, last week challenged Canada to amend its
patent law to give poor countries devastated by AIDS a cheap
source for drugs.

Pharmaceutical giants and developed countries have resisted
pressure to allow generic exports to Africa and Third-World
countries for years, arguing the cheaper drugs could find a way
into richer countries where patent protection would be eroded.

"The NDP has consistently called on Canada to start the flow of
cheap drugs to Africa," Davies told the Commons. "The government
has promised treatment drugs before, but it has increased the
patents instead. It must do better this time because humanity
demands help for Africa now."

Chretien revealed that Boudria had already met with the opposition
parties over possible legislation, and accused Davies of trying to
exploit the issue to get attention. "We have to make the proper
decision, but while they are discussing the timing for legislation
she needed to grandstand, I guess, because they do not have much
to complain about," said Chretien.

Canadian Alliance MP Rob Merrifield said his party will also
likely support fast action. "I think that it just seems to be a
humane thing do do, and we don't really have a problem with it and
I don't really hear a lot of voices that are objecting to the
idea," said Merrifield, the lead health critic for the Alliance
caucus.

The legislation being proposed to amend existing drug patent law
would cover drugs for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, but Davies
said cheaper drugs should also be made available to combat cancer,
diabetes and other diseases in the poor countries.